The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-01-06

on the actual power of the means which pro-
duce it. It depends on what those who are
affected by it suppose to be its power. Ira
dition and education have power to impress Us
greatly, but with men as intelligent as the
rank and file in the lste war shams will finally
be eliminated. Nevertheless, while it lasts,
what we suppose to beso exercises real power.
Our boys made decided moral impression"
on the enemy at Vickxburg by turning loose a
dummy gunboat. That amoral impression
cost the enemy considerable ammunition and
one good ram. The moral impression on
the latter was so great that she ran ashore and
blew up. But the cause of all this was an
inert hulk made to look some like a gunboat.
There is moral force also in Quaker guns
who will deny it?-when they are supposed to
be the Simon pure article2 The Indian pro-
duces moral impression" by much paint
and many blood-curdling whoops. In our boy
hood days we read that Chinese soldiers strive
to make !" moral impression " on their enemies
by hideous masks and warlike instruments,
whose sole efficiency depends on their Ca
pscity to make O noise.
In all these cases it can hardly be doubted
that the moral impression produced is genu-
ine A principle so deeply implanted in our
nature is one that cannot be ignored. We
cannot among intelligent troops rely upon
primitive and barbarous means Of making a
moral impression" We must look for some
other. What shall It be2 1t is evident that
such an impression cannot long be kept up
bya sham. It must have a foundation in
genuine and real power to hold the respect Of
intelligent troops. Witness the history of the
saber bayonet, an invention by Napoleon III
when he was moral force" 1t struck US
dumb by its portentous looks. Now none so
poor to do it reverence. Even the farmer can't
be persuaded to give 10 cents for it for corn
knife!
This moral force, perhaps the bayonet once
had. But 1T is going, going. Among the three
millions of men who, in the late war, carried
bsyonets, how many were ever helped out of a
tight place by it2 How many saw an enemy
touched by it2 How many who hold it in
respect?
1t would be out Of place here to enter into q
history of the weapons of war. Suffice IL to
say that at present our main reliance is on fire.
arms.
The sword, the battleax, the pike and the
lance and defensive armor retired slowly as
the efficiency Of firearms increased, until they
have disappeared or occupy very subordinate
position IN warfare. In our late war, while
we heard of regiments of "Lancers" being re-
cruited, the lances were never forthcoming.
In some foreign armies there are still regi-
ments of lancers, believe, but il is tolerably
certain that they are destined to speedy ex-
tinction.
The lance has been evolved into the bayonet.
There is no denying that the bayonet has in
times past been held in esteem. Hence, it de-
wolves upon us who contend that il is or ought
to be obsolete, to show why. 1t was invented
about 200 years ago when the musket was a
very different weapon from even the muzzle-
loading Springfield (caliber 5S), which We
learned to know SO well. The famous Queen
Anne's musket which won Blenheim and NAL
plaquet, is said to have been totally unreliable